One of the most important decisions an eighteen-year-old has to make is where they are going to attend college at for their post-secondary education. It sets them up for their future and is a large responsibility, which is perhaps why high school seniors put it off for so long. They want to enjoy being free of responsibilities and enjoy the good years while they are still young. When it came for me to choose where I wanted to go, I didn’t have any problems. I knew what I liked and disliked, and I am very happy with the university I am currently attending. If you are a high school senior or a parent of one who is having difficulty choosing where to enroll next fall, here are five things I considered when I was in the same situation.
1. Academics
This is the one tip I can never express enough to high school seniors: if you’re going to choose a college based off of one thing, base it off of academic choices in majors and minors. A good friend of mine once told me that when she decided where she wanted to attend school, she didn’t look at the majors offered at the university first. A few months later, she investigated and discovered that her future institution did not offer what she wanted to pursue. Most large universities have a variety of programs to decide from, but the variety decrease as the size of the university decreases. Though I am not saying that everyone should go to a large school to continue on with their post-secondary education, I would recommend looking at them because they do have more options. Most universities share many majors and minors, such as biology and psychology. I would recommend to check out what is offered the next time you find yourself on your dream school’s website. While going in as an undecided major seems ideal, it’s much more fun starting off your senior year with classes that apply to your future career.
2. Cost
My mother once told me that college is expensive, and my mother was right. However, the cost of a college should not inhibit anyone from attending their desired institution. One of my biggest regrets in high school was that I didn’t apply myself to different tests and scholarships opportunities that could have limited the amount of loan money I had to withdraw to pay for my tuition. I was awarded some money, but everyone will agree that more is better. While visiting or investigating the institution online, take a moment to look at scholarship offers and the annual cost of attendance. Attending the university of your dreams comes at a cost - just make sure you’re willing to pay it.
3. Size
Though this might seem silly to think about, definitely take some time to think about. Coming from a high school that held roughly nine hundred students, I didn’t want to go to a small university. Because I was in the yearbook program for three out of the four years, I got to personally know or know of almost individual and teacher that walked through the hall. I didn’t want to go to a college that made me feel like I would be repeating four years of high school. I desired to walk the streets and see people I didn’t know. However, this is just my own opinion. I am very happy at by university that is abundant with people, but you might not be.
4. Location
Universities and colleges seem to be everywhere these days, making it hard to decide where to go. In my hometown, we have a community college and two larger universities roughly ten minutes across the border. While this is ideal for some people, it’s not ideal for everyone. Being a recent graduate of high school and finally feeling like they have a sense of power, teenagers like being able to break away and start their own life somewhere new. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t want to come back home. I recommend anywhere within a five-hour distance because it’s perfect enough that you won’t be feeling suffocated with family. You can still visit them and they can still visit you, but not as often as you want them to.
5. Type
I wouldn’t say this is the last consideration everyone should take into mind, but seniors and parents should think about it. As I previously mentioned, I lived in a town that had many different types of universities in the area. We had universities and community colleges and online programs through different institutions. If you’re an individual who is uncertain of what they wish to pursue a degree in, community college is a great starting point. It’s a lot cheaper than bigger universities and you will be saving money that can go towards your future. If you think community college isn’t for you, maybe a bigger university is. There are many colleges of all shapes and sizes across the country, and all it takes is a little time for you to find the perfect one for you.
Though the final decision day is not until the spring, I hope you take these items into consideration. Once you decide where you want to go to school, life will be so much easier. Except the stress - the stress never gets easier.
